Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF T~aE I~VENTION
The present invention relates generally to
dishwashers and more particularly to a self-contained,
portable dishwasher unit adapted to be rèmovably
interconnected with a domestic hot water supply.
DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE PRIOR ART
Portable dishwashers operable solely by
water pressure are not new. Several such units have
been manufactured and sold in recent years. A common
drawback of such ~nits, however, has been their in-
ability to rapidly and effectively clean dishes and
cookware.
Many of the prior art units are cheaply con-
structed and have been sold more as a novelty item
than as a bona fide, high performance dishwashing
device. Generally, the washing action in such units
is attempted by one or more rapidly rotating emitters
located beneath or along side a rack holding the dishes.
These emitters, which operate in much the same manner
2 as lawn sprinklers have proven ineffective in the
removal of mos~ troublesome types of food residue on
- the dishes. Other types of emitters have from time
- to time been tried, but for the most part have also
proven to be ineffective.
-25~ The apparatus of the present invention is not
. a toy, or a novelty item, but rather is a carefully
engineered, high performance device adapted to rapidly
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and efficiently remove even the most difficult food
residue from dishes and cookware. The uniquely
designed and strategically positioned water jet means
of the unit directs a multiplicity of high velocity
water jets at the articles to be washed while they
are rotated within the unit at an optimum rate of
speed. These water jets impinge upon all the surfaces
of the dishes supported within the rotating rack and
create a unique scrubbing type of action which loosens
1~ and dislodges even the most difficult of residues. A
unique dosing chamber precisely mixes an emulsifier,
such as liquid soap, with the water upstream of the
water jets thereby enhancing the cleaning efficiency
of the device.
lS At the heart of the present invention is the
uniquely configured water jet means. This means com-
prises a first collimated jet means adapted to
initiate rotation of the rotatable rack which supports
the dirty dishes, and a second spray jet means which
accomplishes the scrubbing action and sustains the
rotation of the rack. Control means are associated
with the jet means whereby the rotational speed of
the rack can be regulated to obtain maximum effective-
ness. The spray jet means is strategically located
with respect to the rack so that a multiplicity of
fine, very high velocity water jets bombard the dishes
from all angles from above, from below and from the
sides. No prior art unit known to the present inventor
utilizes this novel, unique and superior arrangement
and accordingly no prior art device can equal or even
approximate the cleaning efficiency of the device of
the present invention.
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SU~ARY OF THE INVE~TIO~I
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a free standing, self-contained rotatable
dishwasher for washing dishes, cookware and the like
which is operated solely by domestic water pressure
and can be directly connected to a hot water faucet of
the type typically provided in kitchens and bathrooms
of houses and apartments.
It is another object of the invention to pro-
vide a dishwasher of the aforementioned character in
which in operation a multiplicity of very fine high
velocity jets of water are directed at the articles
to be washed from a multiplicity of directions, said
jets being of such force as to quickly and efficiently
dislodge and thoroughly clean even the most subborn
of food residues and greases.
It is another object of the invention to pro-
vide a dishwasher of the character described in which
means are provided for uniformly and controllably mix-
ing a soap or detergent with the high velocity water
jets. This novel means is adapted to precisely meter
the emulsifier into the water stream so as to economi-
cally use only the minimum amount of emulsifier
necessary to effectively clean the dishes.
Still another object of the invention is to
provide a dishwasher of the type described in the pre-
ceeding paragraphs in which the articles to be washed
are strategically held in position upon a uniquely con-
figured rotating rack adapted to orient the articles
with respect to the high velocity water jets so as to
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~; ~ achieve a novel scrubbing type of action to enable
maximum cleaning in a minimum time.
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Another object of the invention is to provide
a dishwasher as described in the previous paragraph
in which, during the start-up mode, a first collimated
water jet is directed at the rotatable rack to
initiate rotation. Once the starting inertia of the
rack is overcome, the first water jet is closed, or
partially closed, and the full force of the water is
directed toward a jet spray system which sustains the
rotation of the rack and at the same time effectively
accomplishes the washing operation. By only partially
closing the first water jet, the speed of rotation of
the rack can be precisely regulated.
A further object of the invention is to provide
a dishwasher of~the class described which is compact,
lightweight, easily portable, highly attractive and
extremely simple to use and maintain.
Still another object of the invention is to
provide a dishwasher of the aforementioned character
which can be readily interconnected to domestic water
outlets without the use o special tools and which
includes drain means for conveniently draining the unit
into an existing kitchen or bathroom sink.
These and other objects of the invention are
realized by a rotatable dishwasher comprising a housing,
- ~ 25 a rack rotatably mounted within the housing, the rack
being adapted to support articles to be washed, jet
. means for directing a jet of water in the direction of
said rack to impart rotational movement thereto, the
jet means comprising a first colli.mated jet for emitting
a collimated stream of water in the direction of the
rack for initiating rotation thereo and a second
; spray jet for sustaining rotation of said rack, and
. dosing means adapted to cooperate with the second
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spray jet for dosing with soap water flowing through
the second spray jet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~IE DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 is an exploded generally perspective
view of the apparatus of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along
lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, with the basket removed.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view
of a portion of the jet means of the invention illus-
trating the construction and operation of the controlmeans for controlling the first collimated jet means.
FIG. 4 is an elevational cross-sectional view
taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.
FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view
of the dosing means of the invention showing the upper
chamber adapted to receive-the emulsifier and the
cooperating lower chamber wherein the water and emul-
sifier is mixed.
FIG. 6 is a foreshortened plan view showing
the uniquely apertured tubing which comprises the
second spray jet means of the apparatus. In this view,
the tubing is shown as it appears prior to being
formed into the special configuration illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 2.
DESCRIPTION OF ONE FORM OF THE INVENTION
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Referring now to the drawings and particularly
to Figs. 1 and 2, the dishwasher of the present
. invention, generally designated by the numeral 12,
includes a housing 14, a rack 15 mounted for rotation
within housing 14, jet means 16 for directing a jet of
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water at rack 14 to impart rotational movement thereto,
and dosing means 17 adapted to cooperate with the jet
means for dosing with an emulsifier water flowing
through the jet means.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
the drawings, the jet means 16 comprises a first colli-
mated jet means for directing a collimated stream of
water at said rack for initiating rotation thereo
and a second spray jet means for sustaining rotation
of the rack once the starting inertia of the rack has
been overcome by the first jet. To control the rate
of rotation of the rack, control means are provided.
This control means is cooperatively associated with
the first collimated jet means for controlling the
rate of flow of the water therethrough, whereby the
speed of the rotation of the rack can be controllably
regulated.
Referring now to Figs, 3 and 4, the jet means
16 of the invention can be seen to comprise a cylindri-
cally shaped housing 18 defining a chamber 20. Housing
18 has an inlet connection 22 (Fig. 1) leading into
chamber 20 and an outlet connection 24 leading from
chamber 20 Ho~sing 18 is provided with a threaded
cap 26 which serves to close chamber 20 and, in a
manner presently to be described, also functions to
interconnect 'nousing 18 with the floor of the dish-
~; washer unit.
In the present form of the invention, the pre-
viously dçscribed first collimated jet means comprises
an upwardly and outwardly inclined fluid passageway
28 extending through the wall of housing 18.
As best seen by referring to Fig. 3, a hole
3Q is drilled in the wall of housing 18 so that it
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tangentially crosses passageway 28. Forming a part of
the control means of the invention is a flow control
needle 32 which is displaceable along the hole 30 in
the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 3.
Movement of this flow control needle is effected by a
lever 34 (Fig. 2) which is pivotally mounted at 36 on
the floor of the dishwasher unit. Lever 34 protrudes
through a slot 38 formed in the side wall of the unit.
By displacing lever 34 in the direction of the arrow
A in Fig. 2, the position of the needle 32 in the hole
or passageway 30 can be precisely adjusted relative to
passageway 28 to completely or partially block the flow
of fluid through~ said passageway.
Referring once again to Fig. 1, housing 14 of
the unit, which can suitably be constructed of thin
plastic or sheet metal, comprises a circular floor 40,
a circular roof 4~ and a side wall 44 having an access
opening 46. Although the dishwasher unit shown in the
drawings is cylindrical in shape, the side wall 44 may
be polygonal, having a large number of facets, say
about 6 per quarter of its circumference; it may be
eliptical; or for certain applications, it may be
substantially rectangular in cross-section.
In the present form of the invention, closure
means is provided in the form of a semi-cylindrically
shaped member 48 movement of which is guided by a semi-
circular rail portion 50 located in the region of
the access opening 46. Closure member, or door,
48 may be constructed of a transparent plastic material,
a light gauge sheet metal or any other suitable rigid
composite material. To enable easy cleaning of the
unit, the access opening 46 should be large enough
to permit the rack 15 to be conveniently removed from
the housing through the opening.
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Floor 40 of the invention is provided with a
plurality of drain openings 52 leading into a basin 54
secured beneath the floor 40. Basin 54 is provided
with an outlet (not shown) which may be connected with
a hose leading to a suitable domestic waste water
drain.
The rack 15 is preferably of coated steel wire
construction, and is provided with specially configured
support elements 5~ adapted to carry and strategically
position various items of crockery, cutlery, dishes,
and cookware and the like which are to be washed.
Provided at the top of rack 15 is a bearing housing
60 which is of inverted cup shape and has a stainless
steel bearing insert 62 therein (Fig. 1). In use,
rack 15 rests with the insert 62 bearing on a stainless
steel ball 64 so that the rack 15 can freely rotate
about a vertical axis. Steel ball 64 is rotatably~
supported within a recess 65 provided at the top of a
substantially vertically~extending shaft 66 suitably
interconnected to floor 40. Connected at the lower
extremity of shaft 66 is a plastic ring 68 which is
adapted to pressurally engage floor 40. The function
of disc 68 is to take up and side thrusts imposed on
shaft 66 resulting from asymmetrical loading of the
rack 15. A centered aperture 70 is provided in floor
40 and is adapted to closely receive the lower end of
shaft 66.
Provided at the bottom of the rack 15 is a
plurality of radially extending vanes 72. Vanes 72
are strategically located so that as rack 15 rotates,
they will be impacted by the collimated stream of
water emitted in the direction of arrow C (Fig. 3) by
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the first collimated jet means through the passageway
28 provided in the side wall of housing 18. As best
seen by referring to Fig. 1, as rack 15 rotates about
shaft 66~ vanes 72 will be brought sequentially into a
line with the collimated stream of water emitted
through passageway 28. As previously mentioned, the
force being exerted upon vanes 72 by this collimated
stream of water can be controlled through operation
of the needle valve 32 of the control means of the
unit.
Also forming a part of the apparatus of the
present invention is the previously mentioned dosing
means 17 which is adapted to cooperate with the jet
means for dosing with an emulsifier water flowing
through the jet means. In the present form of the
invention, the dosing means comprises a housing 74,
having a wall 76 (Fig. 5) and first and second interior
chambers 78 and ~0 which are divided by a partition 82.
Chambers 78 and 80 are in communication with one
another via two holes 84 extending through the parti-
tion ~2. Chamber 80 is closed by an internally
threaded cap 86 which also functions to secure the
dosing means to the floor 40 of the unit. Cap 86
is provided with an inlet connection ~3 leading toward
~ 25 chamber 80. An outlet connection 90 leads from the
; ~ lower chamber 80 and is connected to the inlet
connection 22 of housipg 18 of the jet means. Chamber
78 is similarly closed by a removable, internally
threaded cap 92.
In the present embodiment of the invention,
the previously identified second spray jet means is
~ ; ~ provLded in the form of a specially configured hollow
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tubing 94 (Fig. 2). Tubin 94 has a first substantially
horizontal extending leg portion 96 extending beneath
rack 15, a substantially vertically extending leg
portion 9~ (Fig. 1) disposed proximate the periphery
of rack 15, and a second substantially horizontally
extending leg portion 99 disposed above rack 15.
Tubing 94 may be constructed from copper, aluminum,
plastic or other suitable durable material which can
be bent into the configuration shown in Fig. 1 and 2.
The first horizontally extending portion 56 of the
tubing 94 is connected to the outlet connection 24 of
housing 18 and the upper end 102 thereof is closed.
~eferring to Fig. 6, it can be seen that a
Multiplicity of small holes 103 are drilled in a speci-
fic pattern in each of the leg portions as well as int'ne vertically ex~ending portion of the tubing 96.
The pattern of holes 103 i5 carefully engineered to
create a three dimensional water spray pattern within
housing 14 which sustains rotation of rack 15 and pro-
duces a unique scrubbing type of cleansing action onthe dishes and cookware supported in rack 15. In
Fig. 6 which shows the tubing 94 as it appears prior
to being bet, the precise drilling hole pattern is
~;~ clearly illustrated. For the reasons previously
discussed, the position of these holes or apertures
103 is critical to the operation of the device in that
through each aperture there is directed a high
velocity spray jet which impinges on the articles to
be washed. The velocity of these jets coupled with
the three-dimensional pattern thereof creates a highly
novel and unique scrubbing action upon the articles
. supported within rack 15.
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In using the dishwasher of the invention, the
articles to be washed are placed on the rack 15, a
quantity af emulsifier such as liquid soap, detergent
or other cleansing material is charged into the upper
compartment 78 of the dosing means by removal of cap
92 and a household hot water supply is connected to
the inlet connection to the unit 104 (Fig. 1). Water
enters the lower compartment ~0 and leaves it again
via the connection 90 from where it enters chamber 20
via connection 22. During the start-up mode, a portion
of the water issues via the hole 28 in the form of a
collimated stream or jet, which has previously been
discussed, is directed at the vanes 72. The correct
angular orientation of passageway 28 with respect to
vanes 72 is fixed due to the manner in which housing 18
is secured to floor 40 by means of the threaded cap
26 (see Fig. 4). Impingement of the jet or collimated
stream of water 105 (Fig. 2) against the surfaces of
the vanes causes the rack 15 to rotate carrying the
articles ot be washed along with it. The remainder of
the water enters tube 94 via connection 24 and issues
from the apertures 103 in the form of a multiplicity
of high velocity, multi-dimensional water sprays
adapted to impinge upon the articles carried by the
rack 15.
During the washing operation, the emulsifier
contained in the upper compartment 78 of the dosing
means is precisely metered through the openings 84
of partition 82 into the lower compartment ~0 where
it is uniformly mixed with the water entering the
inlet connection 90.
Once the at-rest inertia of the rack is over-
come and rotation ha~ commenced, the lever ~4 may be
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adjusted to completely or partially close passageway
28 thereby either stopping, or, if desired, regulating,
the force of the collimated stream of water emanating
therefrom. In this way, the speed of the rack may be
adjusted simply by adjusting the position of lever 34.
It is to be understood, however, that event with passage-
way 28 completely closed, the rack will continue to
rotate due to the force of the spray jets emanating
from the tube 94. If, however, acceleration of
rotation of the rack is desired for any purpose, this
may be achieved through adjustment of the lever 34.
In operation, as the water sprays are emitted
from tube 94 and impinge on the articles ~o be washed,
the bottom portion of the unit will partially fill with
water. In view of the fact that the vanes 72 extend
downwardly a substantial distance, the water build-up
in the base of the unit will tend to controllably
impede the rotation of the rack as vanes 72 move through
the water build-up. During normal operation, the
arran~ement of the unit and the size of drains 52 is
such that the water level in the base of the unit will
stabilize at a point to maintain a sufficient level of
water within the base of the housing to dampen rotation
of the rack 15 and prevent an undesirably high speed
of rotation thereof.
It if is desired to completely clean the unit,
the rack 15 can be raised in the manner shown in Fig. 1
and removed through the access opening 46 in the
housing 14. The interior of the housing as well as the
rack can then be thoroughly cleaned.
Having now described the inyention in detail
in accordance with the requirements of the patent
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statutes, those skilled in this art will have no dif-
ficulty in making changes and modifications in the
individual parts or their relative assembly in order
to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such
changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth
in the following claims.
